Burning Kentucky’s Illegal Weed: A Ride-Along With the Cannabis Cops

There’s a corps of Kentucky law officers that enforces marijuana laws, and busts and destroys illegal growing operations throughout the state, with funding from the federal government. In 2009, the Kentucky State Police Cannabis Suppression Branch eradicated 330,699 plants, arrested 483 cultivators, and seized $966,078 in forfeitable assets, according to kentuckystatepolice.org. The busts come even as pot gains acceptance nationwide. So far, four states permit recreational pot sales, while in 23 you can buy marijuana for medical uses. Photographs by Luke Sharrett for Bloomberg

A Guardsman pours fuel on the plants. The team burned close to a $1 million worth of pot in this bonfire alone.

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“The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater.” -- Frank Zappa